Gravity-control lock



Oct. 29, 1929. c. F. BATTERSHELL GRAVITY CONTROL LOCK Filed July 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Ti V Oct. 29, 1929. c. F. BATTERSHELL 1,733,772

GRAVITY CONTROL LOCK Filed July 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 29, 1929 CORYDON BATTERS HELL, OF WICKLIIEFE, OHIO GRAVITY-CONTROL LOCK Application ined July 18,

I like. r

The gravity :control lock embodied in this invention comprises an arrangement of look ing bolts and ball obstructions therefor, all being carried by the door of the box and a panel fastened thereto.

This invention is characterized by the simplicity of construction of the locking mechanism.. Byavailing of gravity for themovement of the various parts .of the mechanism this simple construction is afforded. ,l/Vith. theseand other objects in view, as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated the invention comprisescertain' novel constructions combinations and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed. I s For a full understanding of the invent-ion reference is to be had to the followingdescription andaccompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective of a mystery box withIt-heimproved gravity control lock appliedtheret V ,7 c e- V Figure 2 isa frontview of the panel with the top removed-when the bolts are in the lockediposition, V Figure-3 is a front view of the panel. with the top removed with the locking mechanism in a half locked position. Y Y

.Figure 4 is a front view of thepanel with the locking mechanism in the unlocked position. Q Figure 5 is a detailed cross section taken from the sideon the line 55 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is adetailed cross section taken from the side on the'line 6- 6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detailed cross section of the panel takenon the line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8.,isa detailed cross section taken from the side on the line 88 of Figure 4:.

Figures9to -17, inclusive,vare showings of I the box in the various positions in which it is necessary to place it in order to cause the top to become unlocked. 7

While one form of the invention is hereinafter set forth it is ,;to be understood that it is 1927. Serial No. 206,623.

not to be limited to the exact construction forth, because various modifications of these details may be provided inputting the invention into practice within. thepurview of the appended claims. i r i The box 1 is a mystery box which is bodily movable.

while in the present form this cover'isshown hinged to the box it is to be clearly; understood that the attachment, at this end of the cover may be of any form found suitable. At

FFicE This box has the cover or door 2 hinged thereto at one end, as, shown at 3,

the other end of the box a hasp tis securely fastened to thebox. This haspmay be of any suitable construction so long as it has an opening therein to be engaged by a locking bolt in the top. This hasp has the opening 5 which is engaged by the locking bolt to afford the locking of the box. 1

Reference may now be had to Figures 2, 3 and 4, which show the locking mechanism as it is arrangedin the top and panel or carrier member. Mounted on the inside of thetop 2 in some suitable manner, as by screws, is the panel or carrier member 6, This panelhas the opening 7 in one end in which thehasp 4= when the device is:in locked-position. It, is

notable that when the bolt 11 is in locking po-,, sition it abuts V the end of the jgroove- 8. To

' prevent the locking bolt from becoming dis engaged from the hasp the-keeper member or bolt 12 is movably fitted in the groove 9. The

keeper member or bolt 13- i;s also. movably fitted in the groovelO. Thisboltprevents with the groove 9 but is deeper than said groove It also'cooperates with the recess 16 in the top to allow for the desired movement of the balls.

At the end of the groove 10 is a recess 17 in which are the ball obstructions 18. The bottom of the recess 17 has a sharp inclined portion at one end thereof, while the other end is inclined very slightly in the opposite direction. These inclined portions of the bottom provide a ridge 19. This recess is sufficiently large to allowthe balls 18 to move longitudinally therein. It will be noted-that accessible for obvlous reasons.

when the ball obstructions are in certain posltions in the recesses they .prevent the keeper bolts 12 and 13 from being slid back out of the groove'8, but'upon movement of these balls to other positions in their recesses these keeper bolts will be movable out of their obstructing position in the groove 8.

For the locking bolt 8to pa'ss the first keeper bolt to assume a halflocked position it is necessary for the ball obstructions 1 1 to be in the position shown in Figure '6, that is, when one ball is in one end of the recess 15 the other ball is in the recess 16 in the top. In order that the locking bolt may 'assumethe unlocked position shown in Figure 4, it is necessary that it pass the keeper bolt 13. This bolt'is moved back between the balls 18 when theyare in the position shown in Figure 8,

one ball being in each end of the recess.

' The operation of the above described locking mechanism depends on gravity, as pre viously stated; Starting with the box in locked position, in order to unlock it it is necessary to place it in-position 1 shown in Figure 9, when in this position one of the balls v14 will enter the recess 16' in the top. The box is then inclined to the position 2 scen -in Figure 10, casing the other ball 14 to j be moved to the end of the recess15. When the box is placed on its side, in position 3 shown in Figure 11,]thekeeper bolt 12 will fall into therecess '15, clearing the groove 8. Upon placing'the box in positions, shown in Figure 12, the locking bolt 8 will slide past keeper bolt 12 and abut the keeper'13. VVhen the bolt 11 is in this position it'prevents the keeper 12 from moving into the groove 8( Inorder to move the keeper 13 from the path ofthe'locking'bol-t the box is placed in the position'5, sh'own'in Figure '13, andtiltedto position 6 shown in Figure 1 1. When in this position both the balls 18 will be moved to one end ofthe recess. 'Upon aslight'inclinati'onfof the box 'inthe opposite direction it will assume'the'position 7, shown in Fig. 15,

V in which position one of the balls 18 will move to theother end of the recess. The box is then turned on its side to position 8, shown in Figure 16, allowing the keeper 13 to fall between the balls 18. Upon placing the box in the position 9, shown in Figure 17, the locking bolt 11 will 'fallpast thekeeper 13 to'the b o-tft-on'rof groove 8 unlocking thebox In order to lock'the box it is merely necessary to close the top and incline the box forwardly so that the locking bolt 11 will pass through the opening 5 in the hasp. Upon sidewise rocking motion of the box the keeper bolts 12 and 13 will move across the. groove 8 holding the lockingbolt in position. Only the series of .movementsset forth in the pre-. ceding paragraph will unlock the box and to any one unacquainted with series of movefents necessary to successfully unlock the door or cover the interior of the box is innumberot combinations which would'open' the box are obtainable. These" combinations would be provided by merely transposing the keeper members .irom one'passage to another keeper members, whereby the members are held in looking position.

2. Grravity control locking mechanism for V boxes and thelike, comprising a panel having 1 grooves and recesses therein, atlocking bolt movable in one ofsaid grooves, keeper bolts also movable in the other of said-grooves adapted to obstruct. the movement of the locking bolt, and means in the recesses for ob! structing the movement of the keeper bolts whereby the bolts are held in the locking posi- 1 tion 'f. .1. V 3. Gravity control locking mechanism for boxes and the like, comprisinga panel having longitudinal and transverse grooves, a locking bolt movable in said longitudinal groove,

keeper bolts also movable insaid transverse groove obstructing the 'movement of :said

locking bolt, andimeans obstructing the movemerit of saidkeeper boltfwhereby the bolts 1 are maintained inlocking position. i 1

1. Gravity control lockingme'chanism for mystery boxes and the like, comprisingv a panel having longitudinal and transverse grooves and recesses therein, a locking bolt movable in said longitudinal groove, keeper bolts also movable in said transverse groove obstructing the movement of the locking bolt, and balls in said recesses for obstructing the movement of said keeper bolts whereby the bolts are held in looking position.

5. A mystery box of the class described, comprising a box, a cover for said box, and mechanism for locking the cover to the box, said locking mechanism comprising a hasp secured to the box, a panel having grooves and recesses fastened to the cover, bolts movable in said grooves, one of said boltsbeing adapted to engage the hasp, and means in said rec'esses to obstruct the movement of certain of said'bolts whereby the bolts are held in looking position.

6. In combination with a box, a lock and gravity control locking mechanism, comprising a hasp, a carrier member having passages and recesses therein, a locking member in one of said passages adapted to engage the hasp, keeper members movable in other of said passages, and means in said recesses for obstructing the movement of said keeper members whereby the locking member is held in engagement with the hasp.

7 In combination with a box, a lock and gravity control locking mechanism comprising a hasp, a panel having grooves one of which is aligned with the hasp, a bolt insaid groove adapted to engage the hasp, keeper bolts movable in other of said grooves, and means in said recesses for obstructing the movement of said keeper bolts whereby the Looking bolt is held in engagement with the asp.

8. In combination with a bodily movable box having a cover, a gravity control locking mechanism comprising a hasp, a panel having grooves and recesses'therein fastened to the cover of the box, bolts movable in said grooves, one of said bolts engaging the hasp to lock the cover on the box, and balls'movable in said recesses to obstruct the movement 'of certain of said bolts whereby the bolts are kept in looking position, said balls being movable out of the path of the bolts to permit the unlocking of the box.

9. In combination, with a bodily movable box having a cover, of a gravity control looking mechanism comprising a h asp, a panel having an opening adapted to receive the hasp and grooves and recesses on one face. thereof, one of said grooves being longitudinal and the others transverse and communicating with the longitudinal groove, said whereby the locking bolt is kept in engage ment with the hasp, said balls being movable out of their obstructing position to permit the unlocking of the box.

10. In combination with a box, a lock and I 

